Is a Lexus REALLY Just a Fancy Toyota?
Haters might deride your Lexus as just a fancy Toyota, but there are several key differences that help the Lexus stand out.
Lexus launched in the U.S. back in 1989. The entire range consisted of just two sedans back then. There was the LS 400 and ES 250. The LS was a no-expenses-spared, all-new luxury sedan meant to compete with the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The ES 250 was basically a rebadged Toyota Camry. A fancy Toyota if you will. The Toyota ties make sense since the Toyota Motor Corporation owns the Lexus brand. The whole point of Lexus was to offer customers a car that could rival the best luxury sedans from Europe but for less money and with legendary Toyota reliability. With Lexus being in business for nearly 35 years now, we can confidently say they have achieved that goal. And then some as many additional models have joined the lineup. Everything from large SUVs to exotic supercars have worn the Lexus badge.
Lexus has been a success and is now firmly entrenched as a luxury brand. The ES 250 is long gone. However, the Toyota ties are still strong with many models. That leads some to ridicule the Lexus and try to reduce it to nothing more than a fancy Toyota. Not that there is anything wrong with a Toyota of course. They are terrific vehicles. But the price point of the average Lexus is higher than the average Toyota. So, are you really getting anything of value when buying a Lexus instead of an equivalent Toyota? Is the Lexus worth the money? We think so. And there are several reasons why.
Common Vehicles
First of all, it is important to state the obvious here. And that is that we are referring to just the vehicles that are common to both Lexus and Toyota. There is no equivalent to the Lexus LC or RC F in the Toyota range. And there’s no Supra in the Lexus line-up. But the Lexus RZ 450e and Toyota bZ4X have quite a bit in common. Same with the Lexus NX and Toyota RAV4. It is these similar vehicles where we will focus. Although we are not going to run through the entire spec sheet of every common vehicle. There are highlights that apply across the board that prove our stance that Lexus is worth the extra cost.
Lexus Vehicle Advantage – Performance
Using the RZ 450e as an example. It will cost you roughly $15,000 more than the Toyota bZ4x Limited. That is a decent chunk of change. Pile on the options and the gap widens. And while they are similar the RZ is far more than a fancy bZ4x. The Lexus boasts 308 total horsepower thanks to the Lexus-exclusive DIRECT4 rear e-Axle. That power is enough to get the Lexus to 60 mph in just 5 seconds. The Toyota with optional AWD makes only 214 horsepower and is about a full second and a half slower to 60. Toyota performance is respectable, but the Lexus is significantly better. That of course continues in the cabin. The Lexus has nicer materials and simply looks and feels more upscale than the Toyota.
Lexus Vehicle Advantage – Refinement
Sometimes it is just the little things. Toyota offers a fine JBL audio system. But in the Lexus you will find a superior Mark Levinson audio system. Toyota offers Safety Sense 3.0 and a number of other technology features. But the Lexus adds even more. Features like Advanced Park, and Traffic Jam Assist are reserved for the Lexus. There is also the Lexus Reserve program that gives RZ buyers the ability to rent another Lexus vehicle for 30 days over the course of three years for free. You get no such perk with Toyota and that does make a difference and helps further justify the cost of the Lexus.
Lexus Vehicle Advantage – Lexus Driving Signature
The DIRECT4 rear e-Axle not only gives the Lexus more power, but it also helps it achieve what Lexus calls the ‘Lexus Driving Signature.’ That is meant to provide the Lexus vehicle with a more dynamic driving experience. “DIRECT4 precisely controls the delivery of drive torque from front and rear electric motors and braking force to all four wheels.” This is lacking in the Toyota and is an example of how the two brands differ. Even an all-electric crossover SUV like the RZ is tuned to deliver a dynamic driving experience, thanks to added structural bracing and an improved suspension.
At Toyota you have the sporty GR models but outside of that their vehicles simply don’t have the same commitment to precise handling that you get in a Lexus.
Not Just Marketing
At the beginning Lexus may have been more of a marketing ploy, especially with the ES 250. In fact, in Japan there was no such thing as the Lexus brand until 2005. Everything was branded as Toyota. Recently here in the U.S. there were vehicles like the Toyota C-HR that was close to the Lexus UX. The Toyota Avalon was like the Lexus ES 350. However, those Toyota models are no more. And Lexus is really pushing to put some distance between their vehicles and the Toyota products. The technical differences between the RZ and bZ4x illustrate that. They are related but not the same. The Lexus is not a fancy Toyota because the Lexus has technology that the Toyota products just don’t offer at any price.
Dealership Experience
Another thing to consider when comparing the brands is the typical dealership experience. Many of us try to spend as little time in a dealership as possible. But there are still times when you simply need to be there. According to J.D. Power Lexus dealers consistently rank among the very best when it comes to the dealership experience. Toyota typically ranks around mid-pack. And the ambiance in a Lexus dealership is just on another level compared to the Toyota dealer. You pay for that experience but there is no question that there is a different level of accommodation. One is Outback Steakhouse and the other is Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse.
Summary
Lexus vehicles have more technology, better quality components, and better performance than similar Toyota models. Toyota is not bad by any means. But if you have the means and want something a step above the Lexus is worth springing for. And if it matters to you, that Lexus badge carries more prestige than the Toyota badge. Lexus is considered a luxury brand. Toyota is not.
Images: Lexus
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